Villordsutch reviews Twin Peaks Season 3 – Episodes 1 & 2…
Just over a quarter of a century – 26 years ago – Twin Peaks left our televisions with the deceased Laura Palmer informing both Special Agent Dale Cooper, along with the viewers of the show, that she will see us again in twenty-five years. We didn’t expect this. We received Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, a film which charted the final few days of Laura Palmer’s life (today people would dub it a prequel to the series) but we never actually expected Twin Peaks to return for a third season. But it has.
Episodes 1 and 2 were shown consecutively with no break bringing us the viewers into this more modern world of Twin Peaks. If you’ve never seen an episode of Twin Peaks before and were hoping that this ‘return’ may actually be a ‘soft reboot’, expecting to be treated to perhaps a catch up of what has been before, Mr. David Lynch and Mr. Mark Frost kindly showed you the EXIT and directed you to the fact that Seasons 1 and 2 have existed for twenty-seven years and it’s your problem if you haven’t already caught up.
The boundaries of Twin Peaks have been broken and the world of the supernatural and strange no longer seems to be trapped within this small town bordering Canada. We’re taken to New York where Sam (Ben Rosenfield) is maintaining numerous cameras that are watching a sealed empty glass box, in which the only way to enter seems to be from outside – though outside is numerous floors high and there sits another sealed empty glass box. Evil Cooper – possessed by BOB – is touring across America visiting people who appear to be occupied (possibly) by the same spirits that possessed those in and around Twin Peaks. So much so that we discover a horrific murder involving the local Principal Bill Hastings (Matthew Lillard), who when he recounts his dream from days past, watchers of Twin Peaks will instantly think back to Leland Palmer (Ray Wise). Meanwhile in the Black Lodge a disturbance is unbalancing the stability of this spiritual holding cell for Special Agent Dale Cooper.
As the episodes unfold you realise that the series seems to be stepping away from the “soap opera” it mimicked, though it will be nice to see “Invitation to Love” is still a hit today, as it was back in the 1990’s. Now our two writers are focusing on the numerous crime dramas that occupy the airwaves (CSI, NCIS, Law & Order: Insert favourite show here) and of course the supernatural world that flows around us. It’s going to be extremely interesting seeing how these new elements come together and to see how they coagulate within the town of Twin Peaks.
There is a considerable amount to take in already within the first two episodes, and as ever with David Lynch and Mark Frost these episodes and clues aren’t handed out with big signs pointing at them saying, “CLUE!”. Your full attention needs to be given throughout to make sure that not only images are absorbed, but sounds are too. If you’re Facebooking, Tweeting or Instagramming a piece of Cherry Pie you’ve missed something!
It’s bizarre seeing and hearing a world I was only just rewatching again for the nth time the other day. Seeing the effects of time and realising like them age has arrived. Seeing the return Log Lady (Catherine Coulson) in the show was like watching an old friend on a previously lost VHS tape, one who I’d missed and one whom I’m missing. It’s heart-breaking knowing that she’s gone.
Twin Peaks has finally returned and it’s beautifully macabre, confusing in places (as expected) and needed. Television has missed a show like Twin Peaks – we’ve needed a programme that doesn’t give you the story in one bite or in one fluid, numb order. I’m glad David Lynch and Mark Frost have brought back that gum that I liked.
Originally published May 23, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
